British arms sales to Israel: exercising the Foreign Office veto, 1950–56

Abstract

This article focuses on one aspect of the Anglo-Israeli relationship, which in the eyes of the Israelis was the main point of concern: the question of British arms sales to the Middle East. It covers the period from the start of the 1950s, when Britain officially recognized Israel, and concludes with the period immediately prior to the Suez War of 1956. During this period, the Foreign Office (FO) was a major force in the formation and implementation of British foreign policy in the Middle East. Central to its role in dealing with British policies towards the region was its effective veto on the sale of British weapons to the Middle East region. The article argues that during this period the FO was extremely flexible in sanctioning the sale of arms to its Arab allies, but did not offer the same flexibility in dealing with potential British arms sales to Israel.